Traveling to Chile and wondering what are the most famous landmarks in Chile?
Chile is one of the most developed countries in South America. With it’s long geographic shape, the country from the Northern Atacama Desert to the Southern Patagonian region is home to some of the most famous landmarks in Chile.
These Chilean landmarks provide insights into the country’s history, culture, and landscape to give you a wholesome Chilean experience.
Here are some of the famous landmarks in Chile that you will get to visit when you travel through the South American country.
Most Famous Landmark In Chile
The most famous landmark in Chile is not actually on mainland Chile. It is on Easter Island which is a special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
Moai Statues (Easter Island)
The Moai statues are the most famous attraction on Easter Island. There are around 1000 statues, which averages 13 feet tall. They were carved from volcanic ash between 1400 and 1650 AD.
The heaviest Moai statue weighs 86 tons, and it is a mystery how the ancient people of Easter Island moved these massive statues.
Easter Island is only 63 square miles, and there are approximately about 3,000 people living on the island today.
You can find these Moai statues all over the island, with the most famous being Ahu Tongariki, which has 15 statues. If you’re traveling to Chile, Easter Island is well worth a visit to see these amazing ancient statues.
Santiago, Chile Landmarks
Gran Torre Santiago
The Gran Torre Santiago, also known as the “Torre Santiago” or “Santiago Tower”, is a supertall skyscraper in Santiago. In fact, it is the tallest building in the Chilean Capital. The tower is in the Santiago Central Business District. It serves as the headquarters of the largest bank in Chile, Banco Santander Chile.
This impressive tower was designed by the Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava, and construction began in 2005. The Gran Torre Santiago was completed in 2013 and has 62 floors. It is 1,000 feet (305 meters) high and cost $1 billion USD to build.
The Gran Torre Santiago has an observation deck on the 53rd floor that offers views of the city of Santiago.
Palacio de la Moneda
The Palacio de la Moneda, Chile’s Presidential Palace, is one of the most important landmarks in Chile. It was originally constructed in 1784 as a mint, and has served as a palace since 1818.
The building was extensively damaged during Chile’s 1973 military coup, but has been restored and is now open to the public. You can tour the palace and its grounds, and there is also a museum on-site. It is a place to learn about the politics and deep history that Chile is known for.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is Chile’s national art museum. It was founded on November 3, 1883, and houses a large collection of Chilean and European art, including works by Diego Rivera, Pedro Lira, and Camilo Mori. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions.
The building that now houses the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes was originally constructed as the Royal Palace of Santiago in 1784. In 1805, it became the National Congress Building. The museum was moved to its current location in 1957.
Cerro San Cristobal
One of the most famous landmarks in Santiago Chile is Cerro San Cristobal. It is a hill that is located in the Providencia commune of Santiago.
The hill rises to a height of 880 meters and has a beautiful view of the city. The hill was once a fortress that guarded the city from invaders.
There are now many tourist attractions on the hill such as museums, churches, and the famous Cristo Rey monument. The hill is a popular spot for hiking and biking. There is a cable car that takes visitors to the top of the hill where they can get a panoramic view of Santiago.
Museum of Memory and Human Rights
The Museum of Memory and Human Rights is a museum that documents the history of human rights abuses in Chile from 1973 to 1990.
It was inaugurated on December 10, 2010, the 30th anniversary of the coup d’état that overthrew Salvador Allende’s Marxist government and began the 17-year military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. The building was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo.
The museum has four floors. The first floor contains an exhibit on Chile’s pre-Columbian cultures. The second floor tells the story of Chile from colonial times to the 1973 military coup. The third floor covers the Pinochet dictatorship, and includes exhibits on torture, disappearances, and resistance to the regime. The fourth floor is a dedication to human rights worldwide.
The museum is in Santiago’s Quinta Normal Park, near the Chile National Museum of Fine Arts and the Chilean National Zoo.
Bahá’í Temple
The Bahá’í Temple is a temple outside of Santiago city center that was constructed in 1953.
The design of the temple was inspired by the World Temple in Chicago. The building is made from white marble and has a nine pointed star on the top.
The temple serves as the Mother Temple of South America. It is open to the public and there are no admission fees.
Other Famous Landmarks In Chile
The Hills Of Valparaiso
Chile’s port city of Valparaíso is famous for its hills. In fact, the city is built on 43 of them. The most famous of these hills is Cerro Alegre. The name Alegre means “joyful” in Spanish and aptly fits the many brightly painted houses that line its slopes.
The first European settlers in Chile arrived in Valparaíso in 1536. They were led by Pedro de Valdivia, who founded Santiago, the capital of Chile, in 1541. Valparaíso became an important port for Chile and was declared a city in 1837.
The hills of Valparaíso are a major tourist attraction for their beauty and for the many funiculars and street cars that provide transportation up and down the hills.
Chiza Geoglyphs
The Chiza Geoglyphs are a series of ancient geoglyphs in the Atacama Desert of Chile. The glyphs were first discovered in 2001 by a team of archaeologists from Chile and the United States.
The glyphs are in an area that is nowthe Chiza Valley. The valley is part of the Pampa de Atacama, one of the driest places on Earth.
The glyphs are carved into the surface of a boulder and are thought to have been created by the Tiwanaku culture, which flourished in the area from AD 300 to 1000.
The glyphs are difficult to see from a distance, but you can be easily see them by standing next to the boulder. They depict animals, humans, and geometric shapes.
The Chiza Geoglyphs are an important archaeological landmark in Chile.
Pukará de Quitor
The Pukará de Quitor is a pre-Inca fortress located in the Atacama Desert of Chile. The fortress was built by the Atacameño people in the 12th century and was later occupied by the Inca Empire.
The Pukará de Quitor is located in the town of San Pedro de Atacama, about a two-hour drive from Antofagasta. The fortress is made of stone and mud brick and is built on a hill that overlooks the town.
The Pukará de Quitor is a popular tourist attraction for its history and its location. Visitors can hike to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of the town and the surrounding desert.
Colourful Stilt Houses, Chiloe
The Chiloe Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of Chile. One of the most popular tourist attractions in this area is the row of colorful Palafitos on the island of Chiloe.
The houses are brightly painted and are built on stilts to protect them from flooding. These colourful stilt houses reflect the architecture style in the 19th century in the region.
Apart from the historic wooden churches, these are the postcard photos for Chiloe. You can see them best via a boat tour around the coast.
Natural Landmarks In Chile
Cajon del Maipo
Cajon del Maipo is a canyon that was carved by the Maipo River. This canyon is known for its many impressive cliffs, as well as its beautiful landscapes. You can visit in summer or winter although you might need snow shoes when visiting during the off season.
Cajon del Maipo is also popular for its rafting and hiking trails, which make for a great way to explore the area. It is approximately a two-hour drive from Santiago.
Marble Caves
The Marble Caves of Chile Chico are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chile. Formed over 6,000 years ago by the action of water and wind on the calcium carbonate cliffs, these caves are a series of caverns and tunnels that have been carved out of the stone.
The caves get their name from the beautiful blue-white sheen visuals that look like marble. These caves are in a glacial lake, Lake General Carrera. The glistering turquoise water contributes to the magical setting.
El Tatio
El Tatio is one of the most popular landmarks in Chile. It is a geyser field that is located in the Andes Mountains. It is said that this is the highest geyser field in the world.
El Tatio was created by the interaction of three volcanoes, tech Chile, Mamma Chile, and Puyehue. The area is about 42,000 hectares and it contains more than 80 geysers. The temperature of the water here can reach up to 93 degrees Celsius.
The earliest record of El Tatio was from 1630 when Pedro de Valdivia wrote about it. However, it wasn’t until 1883 when it was truly discovered by European explorers.
Ever since then, it has become a popular tourist destination for Chile. In order to get to El Tatio, you would need to take a bus from San Pedro de Atacama. The ride takes about four hours.
Torres del Paine
The Torres del Paine National Park is a Chile landmark that is famous for its mountains, glaciers, and lakes. It is located in the Patagonia region of Chile and was declared a National Park in 1959. The park is about 968 square kilometers and is visited by over 300,000 tourists each year.
The signature landmark in the park is the Torres del Paine, which are three granite peaks that are part of the Paine Massif. The peaks are about 2,500 meters high and can be seen from great distances. The park also has glaciers, such as the Grey Glacier, and lakes, such as Lago Grey.
In order to visit the Torres del Paine National Park, you would need to fly into the city of Puerto Natales. From there, you can take a bus or a boat to the park.
Isla Magdalena
Isla Magdalena is a famous island for its beautiful beaches and stunning marine life. The island is also home to a variety of bird species, including the blue-footed booby, which can be found nesting on the island during the summer months.
Isla Magdalena is also a popular spot for wildlife viewing, and visitors can often see sea lions, dolphins, and whales from the shore.
Osorno Volcano
Osorno Volcano is a stratovolcano in the South of Puerto Varas, which travelers usually use as a base for visiting the region. The volcano is part of the Osorno Province and the Los Lagos Region.
Osorno Volcano has erupted frequently throughout its history, with the last eruption occurring in 1984. The volcano has a 1,247-meter-high (4,097 ft) summit and a 6.5-kilometer-wide (4.0 mi) caldera. The slopes of the volcano are mostly covered by glaciers and snowfields.
Valle de la Luna
Chile is home to many awe-inspiring landscapes, but none quite as otherworldly as Valle de la Luna.
The “Valley of the Moon” got its eerie name from its resemblance to the moon’s surface; with its mix of craters, canyons, and spires of rock, it’s easy to see why.
This valley is in the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth. It’s no surprise, then, that the sand dunes here are some of the highest in the world. The diverse climate is one of the interesting facts about Chile and its various landmarks.
Visitors can explore Valle de la Luna on foot or by camel ride; either way, be sure to bring plenty of water, as it’s easy to get lost in this otherworldly landscape.
Laguna San Rafael National Park
Laguna San Rafael National Park is one of Chile’s most popular tourist destinations. The park is in the Aysén region of Chile and is famous for its stunning landscapes and glaciers.
The Laguna San Rafael National Park was created in 1959, covering an area of 17,400 square kilometers. The park is home to a variety of animal species, including the puma, Andean deer, and Chilean flamingo. The park also has a rich history, which travelers can learn more about at the park’s visitor center.
One of the main highlights in the national park is the Laguna San Rafael which is a glacial lagoon that was formed by the retreating San Rafael Glacier. The lagoon is surrounded by mountains and it is a popular spot for kayaking and canoeing. There are also a number of hiking trails in the park, which offer stunning views of the lagoon and the surrounding landscape.
Futaleufú River (Patagonia Region)
The Futaleufú River is one of Chile’s most famous rivers, and it’s in the Patagonia region in the southern part of Chile.
The Futaleufú River is known for its turquoise waters and dramatic scenery. It’s a popular destination for whitewater rafting, kayaking, and fly fishing.
The river is surrounded by mountains, forests, and glaciers, making it a beautiful place to visit.
Discovering Landmarks In Chile
Chile is a land full of natural wonders and stunning landscapes that are waiting to be explored. From the towering peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park to the eerie Valle de la Luna, there are plenty of landmarks in Chile to keep your explorer spirit alive.
These are just some of the famous Chilean landmarks and you are bound to discover more of them as you travel throughout the country.
